Nogueira-Prado Affair

The Nogueira-Prado Affair was a political scandal that occurred on 5 January 1839 in the Brazilian Empire. It occurred when Dom Pedro I appointed the Brazilian Liberal Party to rule the HM's Government and booted the Brazilian Conservative Party majority from power. The controversy that erupted, together with the 1839 Brazilian economic crisis, led to discontent with the government.

History
The event is named for Brazilian Liberal Party leader Daniel Nogueira and the Brazilian Conservative Party leader Oscar Prado, two rival politicians. In 1836, the newly-formed Conservative Party (which left the Brazilian Moderate Party) was appointed by Emperor Dom Pedro I as the ruling party of Brazil, with a 67.3% majority in the General Assembly Senate of the Brazilian Empire. The rival Liberal party had a 28.7% minority, but was the second-largest political group in the country. The Conservatives enjoyed the support of the people in the 1836 Brazilian Liberation of Bolivian Amazonas, during which the Conservative war policies led to a victory over the government of Bolivia. Their military policies also ended the Pará Crisis with the Netherlands. However, as time went by, the Liberal Party garnered more support, increasing by 2% in the 1838-39 upper house appointments. The two parties were on their way to a collision, which would occur shortly after the elections.

On 5 January 1839, while Brazil was cooling off from the war with Bolivia and the Netherlands, Dom Pedro I pursued an economic reform. He appointed Nogueira's Liberal Party as the new ruling party of Brazil, replacing the Conservative Party of Prado. The appointment was controversial, as the minority party gained control over the country, but it was within the Emperor's powers in the Constitution of 1824. Oscar Prado complained to the General Assembly Senate, petitioning their support in retaking power. Lawsuits were threatened, and Brazil's people were angry. They were further incensed by the 1839 Brazilian economic crisis, and Brazil began to suffer. However, the affair ended in time when the Brazilian government raised taxes on the poor, middle class, and wealthy and raised the tariffs. With the economic crisis over (and Brazil gaining lots of money), the Nogueria-Prado Affair also melted away.